Advocates for tighter gun rules have pushed a two-pronged attack in recent months, sending a steady message to lawmakers and pressuring large corporations to restrict guns in their businesses. Now, groups backed by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg have turned their attention to Kroger (NYSE: KR), the nation's largest supermarket operator and owner of the Harris Teeter chain. The groups want Kroger to follow Target (NYSE:TGT) and Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) in setting a policy prohibiting open-carry of firearms at its locations. So far, Kroger has resisted, saying through a spokesperson that local laws are sufficient. -- Wall Street Journal

The success of pre-owned car dealer CarMax (NYSE: KMX) was bound to spawn at least one powerful challenger. Sonic Automotive (NYSE: SAH) plans to launch its own chain of pre-owned vehicle dealerships, to be called EchoPark. The impetus for the move is clear: Americans buy far more used cars each year than new cars, and dealers can expect far higher margins selling used compared to new. -- Wall Street Journal

Bourbon makers expect the near future to bring such an increase in demand that they are manufacturing more product than they have in decades. -- New York Times